[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 60 (Tuesday, April 9, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H2149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN RECOGNITION OF WEGAYEWU FARIS

  (Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a local hero 
whose selfless act exemplifies the very essence of courage and 
sacrifice.
  Wegayewu Faris, an immigrant from Ethiopia who settled 7 years ago in 
Coralville, Iowa, displayed remarkable bravery when he risked his life 
to save an 8-year-old boy from drowning back in 2022.
  Without hesitation, Faris, who had worked as a custodial worker at 
City High School, leaped into action and jumped into the full Iowa 
River when he saw the boy in danger and struggling. His quick and 
decisive response underscores the true nature of heroism.
  Tragically, Faris lost his life in the process, but his heroism did 
not go unnoticed. Recently, he was posthumously awarded the Carnegie 
Medal for Heroism, the highest civilian honor for bravery in North 
America.
  This recognition serves as a testament to his extraordinary courage 
and selflessness. Faris' legacy reminds us of the profound impact one 
individual can have on their community.
  May his bravery inspire us all to act with courage and compassion in 
the face of adversity.

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